Soft Parade

A very sweet, jammy aroma is somewhat muddled but a strawberry note that seems to rise above everything else. There is no hop aroma to speak of and an underlying pie-crust malt aroma insinuates a summer dessert beer. The color is unique as far as most beers are concerned: murky pink dulled by some darker brown hues. There is a small creamy off-white head that struggles to build but has good retention. The flavor carries more complexity than the aroma with blueberry up front, light raspberry tartness in the middle, and a strong essence of strawberry in the finish. The hop bitterness is moderate and helps keep the beer from becoming cloyingly sweet. The rye doesn't seem to play much of a role here aside from a subtle spiciness, which actually seems to detract from the overall picture of this beer. The mouthfeel is thick and somewhat chewy without being too syrupy. There is enough effervescence to help scrub the palate, allowing for an excellent pairing of this beer with a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie.